Learn English – Where does “flying in the face” come from

etymologyidioms

To "fly in the face of" something means to be opposite it, with a particular connotation that is hard to describe. Where does the expression come from?

Best Answer

This source dates it from the 1500s and says:

Fly in the face of

The first version, from the 1550s, was to fly in a person’s face and its literal meaning was of a dog that attacked by springing at a person. Very early on, it acquired the figurative sense of verbally attacking someone who disagreed with your opinions or your actions, decidedly getting in their face.

See also this page which shows that the meaning of "to fly at" still means to attack, regardless of presence of wings or not

Attack fiercely, assault. For example, The dogs flew at each other's throats . [Late 1500s]

Another source keeps the idea of threatening or challenging danger

Fly in the face of

Meaning: To go against accepted belief; to respond actively against danger. Example: The U.S. invasion of Iraq flew in the face of intelligence reports that stated Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. Origin: This expression alludes to that of the hen that flies in the face of the dog or fox that attacks her.

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